The group that hands out Oscars for excellence in the movies expelled actor-comedian Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski on Thursday because of cases of sexual assault.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued a statement saying its board of governors “continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity.”

The academy adopted a new code of standards in December following accusations of sexual harassment and physical abuse by producer Harvey Weinstein — booted from the academy in October.

The code says the academy is no place for “people who abuse their status, power, or influence in a manner that violates standards of decency.”  

Cosby, who is known more for television than films, was convicted last week for drugging and sexually abusing former Temple University women’s basketball team manager Andrea Constand in 2004.

Polanski won a Best Director Oscar for 2002’s The Pianist. He is accused of statutory rape for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles in 1977.

Polanski fled the United States the following year to avoid possible prosecution. 
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